The situation at a glance: EU strengthens Ukraine in the gas transit dispute with Slovakia

The European Commission is supporting Kiev in the gas transit dispute between Ukraine and EU member Slovakia. A Commission spokeswoman in Brussels made it clear that the EU was prepared to stop the transit of Russian gas through the war-torn country; The European gas infrastructure is flexible enough to deliver gas of non-Russian origin to Central and Eastern Europe via alternative routes. Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured Ukraine of further support in its defensive battle against Russia.

Ukraine, which has been defending itself against a Russian war of aggression for almost three years, will stop the transit of Russian gas at the beginning of the year. A corresponding transit contract is expiring; Kiev had announced long in advance that it would not be extended. The stop of transit poses problems for Slovakia in the EU, as well as for non-member Moldova. The Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico threatened Ukraine on Friday that his country could stop the supply of electricity in return.

On Sunday, Fico wrote in a letter to the EU Commission that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “tacit acceptance of the unilateral decision” to block the transit of Russian gas was wrong and irrational and would lead to “increased tensions and reciprocal measures.” . In his opinion, the interruption of gas transport would harm the EU more than Russia.

The EU Commission spokeswoman said: “The impact of the end of transit via Ukraine on the EU’s security of supply is limited.” The authority has been working in coordination with member states for more than a year to prepare for a scenario without the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine and to secure alternative supplies for the affected member states. Europe’s gas infrastructure has been strengthened, among other things, through significant import capacities for liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Scholz assures citizens that they will continue to support Ukraine

In his New Year’s address, Chancellor Scholz said that many in Germany were looking at Russia’s brutal war of aggression against Ukraine with a feeling of growing anxiety. “I assure you that we will not leave Ukraine alone and will continue to support Ukraine like no one else in Europe – and that we will continue to keep a cool head so that the war does not spread.”

Zelenskyj: US aid strengthens the front

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the recent billions in US aid. “This will strengthen the front in the near future, help us repel Russian attacks and help Ukraine save lives,” he said in his evening video address. This support comes at a critical time as Russia intensifies its attacks, even involving North Korean soldiers, and continues to receive weapons from North Korea and Iran.

Shortly before the end of the year, the outgoing US government of President Joe Biden once again promised billions in aid to Ukraine. The president himself announced military aid worth almost 2.5 billion US dollars (2.36 billion euros). On the one hand, they include weapons and ammunition worth 1.25 billion US dollars for the Ukrainian military and a further 1.22 billion US dollars in security aid.

In addition, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced that she would pay Ukraine 3.4 billion US dollars (3.27 billion euros) as budget aid. The sums announced by Biden and Yellen are funds that have already been released by the US Congress.

In addition, disbursement of a US loan to Ukraine for $15 billion began as part of a major aid package from the Group of Seven major democratic industrialized countries (G7). This was agreed between the World Bank, as the administrator of the money, and the Ministry of Finance in Kiev, said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The money should be used for social and humanitarian purposes. To Moscow’s annoyance, the sum is secured by interest income on Russian state assets that are frozen in the West.

The USA is Ukraine’s biggest supporter in its defense against Russia. It is uncertain what course Biden’s successor Donald Trump will take, who will be sworn in as the 47th US President on January 20th.

In 2024, war-torn Ukraine received almost 40 billion euros in foreign financial aid to support its budget. The Ministry of Finance in Kiev announced this number on the penultimate day of the year. Around 30 percent of the aid was granted as a grant, the rest as loans on favorable terms. “In 2024, we were able to cover all priority social and humanitarian expenses,” said Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko.

Prisoner exchange and attacks

Shortly before the New Year, Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war again. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, 150 prisoners were involved in each case. Zelensky, however, announced that they had managed to bring 189 Ukrainians home. Both sides thanked the United Arab Emirates for their mediation.

According to authorities, the small Russian town of Lgov in the Kursk border region was fired at with rockets by the Ukrainian army for the second time in just a few days. The regional administration denied any major damage. However, videos from the city showed fires and suggested that there were definitely hits. According to unofficial Ukrainian information, Lgov serves as a staging area for Russian troops to drive Ukrainian soldiers from their bridgehead in the Kursk region.

The night of Tuesday began in Ukraine with an air alert in several areas because Russian combat drones were detected in the sky. “Stay in shelters!” warned the mayor of the capital Kiev, Vitali Klitschko, on his Telegram channel. At the same time, pro-Ukrainian Telegram channels reported explosions near the naval port of Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia. The occupation administration confirmed that the anti-aircraft defense was fighting Ukrainian drones.

According to the local governor, Vasily Anokhin, there was a fire on the site of an oil depot in the Smolensk region west of Moscow. According to preliminary information, wreckage from a drone fell onto the site, Anokhin wrote on his Telegram channel. As a result, fuel leaked and fuel and lubricants ignited. There is no danger for residential buildings.